Warner Brothers Isn't Budging on Towelhead

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:54:28

Warner Brothers is refusing to change the title of its upcoming film, Towelhead, despite protest from Islamic civil rights groups who feel the name is a disrespectful slur against those of Muslim faith and Arabic origin. The studio was steadfast in its claim that it will keep the title as is and has said it stands by the filmmakers. The title is meant to point out racial stereotypes, which is why it was chosen, but The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Towelhead looks and feels like a religious and racial slur.

The film was directed by Alan Ball, adapted from Alicia Erian's novel of the same name. Erian is Arab-American herself and selected the title since it "highlights one of the novel's major themes: racism." The book and film explore the life of a 13-year-old girl of Lebanese-American heritage who is maturing in the early 1990s. The film was originally set up at Warner Independent, but was folded into Warner Brothers proper after that arm was shuttered. The film will open in New York and Los Angeles on September 12 as a limited release. It was originally titled Nothing is Private when it was screened at last year's Toronto International Film Festival and the Islamic group is asking that the film revert to that title. Erian has said that, as an artist, she should not be forced to alter her work since she wanted to highlight the pain that such harsh language and slurs inflict on minorities.